Apparatus and method for testing a climate controlled vehicle seat

Abstract

A climate controlled seat test apparatus is provided. The test apparatus may have a pump arrangement configured to alter a pressure within a vicinity of a climate controlled portion of a vehicle seat. A controller may be programmed to detect airflow obstructions or losses within the climate controlled portion of the seat. The climate controlled portion may include a blower motor. The controller may detect airflow obstructions and/or losses based on a change in current consumed by the blower motor caused by the pump arrangement altering the pressure within the vicinity of the climate controlled portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A climate controlled seat test apparatus comprising:
 a plenum adapted to be placed against an A-surface trim cover of a climate controlled portion of a vehicle seat such that the plenum and A-surface trim cover define a chamber; 
 an air pump arrangement configured to alter a pressure within the chamber; and 
 at least one controller programmed to detect obstructions to or losses of airflow between the A-surface trim cover and a blower motor of the climate controlled portion based on a change in current consumed by the blower motor caused by a change in pressure within the chamber, wherein the plenum and air pump arrangement define a closed system with the climate controlled portion of the vehicle seat. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one controller is further programmed to output an alert indicating detection of the obstructions to or losses of airflow when the change in current consumed by the blower motor is near or equal to zero. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one controller is further programmed to output an alert indicating an absence of obstructions to or losses of airflow when the change in current consumed by the blower motor is five percent or more. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the air pump arrangement is further configured to increase the pressure within the chamber. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the air pump arrangement is further configured to decrease the pressure within the chamber. 
     
     
       6. A method for testing a climate controlled seat comprising:
 positioning a plenum against a climate controlled portion of the seat such that the plenum and seat define a chamber and a closed system; 
 capturing a first current reading of a blower motor of the climate controlled portion while the blower motor is on and a pressure within the chamber is at a first pressure; 
 capturing a second current reading of the blower motor while the blower motor is on and the pressure within the chamber is at a second pressure; and 
 in response to an absolute current draw difference between the first and second current readings being less than a threshold value, outputting a signal indicating that the climate controlled portion has an airflow fault condition. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6  further comprising, in response to the absolute current draw difference between the first and second current readings being near or equal to zero, outputting a signal indicating that the climate controlled portion has an airflow fault condition. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 6  further comprising, in response to the absolute current draw difference between the first and second current readings being greater than the threshold value, outputting a signal indicating that the climate controlled portion does not have an airflow fault condition. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the threshold value is a current draw equal to 5% of the first current reading. 
     
     
       10. A vehicle seat test apparatus comprising:
 a plenum for placement against an A-surface trim cover of a climate controlled seat portion to define an external chamber; 
 an external pump arrangement to alter a pressure within the chamber or a vicinity of the seat portion; and 
 a controller to detect airflow obstructions or losses within the seat portion based on change in current consumed by a seat blower caused by the pump arrangement. 
 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is further programmed to output an airflow fault condition alert when the change in current consumed by the seat blower is near or equal to zero. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one controller is further programmed to output a signal indicating that the seat portion does not have an airflow fault condition when the change in current consumed by the seat blower is less than or equal to 95% of a first current reading associated with the seat blower or greater than or equal to 105% of the first current reading.